Bollywood star Aamir Khan was recently targeted by a deepfake video, where he appears in a fake political ad related to endorsing a specific political party. Khan has called out the ad and has also taken action against the fake video, according to an official statement. 

Khan’s official spokesperson said, "We want to clarify that Mr. Aamir Khan has never endorsed any political party throughout his 35-year career." 

The statement added that Khan has dedicated his efforts to raising public awareness through Election Commission public awareness campaigns for many past elections. 

"We are alarmed by the recent viral video alleging that Aamir Khan is promoting a particular political party," the spokesperson said, adding, "He would like to clarify that this is a fake video and totally untrue. He has reported the matter to various authorities related to this issue, including filing an FIR with the Cyber Crime Cell of the Mumbai Police." 

Mr. Khan would like to urge all Indians to come out and vote and be an active part of our electoral process,” the statement read.


‘Never endorsed any political party', says Aamir Khan; files FIR against fake political ad

"He would like to clarify that this is a fake video and totally untrue. He has reported the matter to various authorities related to this issue, including filing an FIR with the Cyber Crime Cell of the Mumbai Police," Aamir Khan’s official spokesperson said in a statement.

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With a library of over 8500+ hours of content transcending over 40 genres, discovery+ offers an extensive array of content, catering to a wide range of interests and preferences. From documentaries that delve into nature, science, history, and exploration into immersive reality shows that provide insights into various cultures and lifestyles, to original series that offer compelling storytelling right from the heart of India, discovery+ is a trove of of distinctive content. 

“Bringing discovery+ to Tata Play Binge represents a huge step forward in expanding our content offerings. The partners’ colossal lineup does not only showcase a myriad collection of genres but also promises entertainment in multiple local languages. This collaboration opens doors to an extensive range of riveting narratives, ensuring our viewers have access to the best of what Discovery+ has to offer, all in one place,” said Pallavi Puri, Tata Play’s Chief Commercial and Content Officer on another successful integration.

Adding to it, Ruchir Jain, Head of Distribution & Eurosport, South Asia, Warner Bros. Discovery, said, “We are thrilled to announce our collaboration with Tata Play Binge. This partnership will enable their subscribers in India to seamlessly access discovery+ content. With our extensive library of exclusive documentaries, captivating series, and engaging originals, including acclaimed titles such as 'Secrets of the Buddha Relics', 'History Hunter', and 'Star Vs Food: Survival', we are dedicated to delivering unparalleled entertainment experiences to Indian households. Now, Tata Play Binge customers can enjoy discovery+ content on all their favorite devices.”

The platform boasts of some popular titles like 90 Day Fiance, Man VS Wild, and Top Gear, #IndiaMyWay, Blue Planet, Secrets of the Koh-i-noor, India’s Ultimate Warrior and many more.

discovery+ will join other popular OTT platforms on Tata Play Binge like Apple TV+, Disney+ Hotstar, ZEE5, Lionsgate Play, FanCode, Sun Nxt, Aha, Fuse+, Hallmark Movies Now, PTC Play, Animax, VROTT, STAGE, ReelDrama, Chaupal, Namma Flix, Planet Marathi, manoramaMAX, iStream, Tarang Plus, Hungama Play, ShemarooMe, Curiosity Stream, EPIC ON, Travelxp, DocuBay, ShortsTV, Playflix, KliKK, Distro TV, MX Player along with Gaming. Content from all these platforms is available to the viewers of Tata Play Binge through a single subscription and a single user interface. Additionally, Netflix can be availed as a combo pack with DTH channels for all Tata Play DTH subscriber whereas Amazon Prime Video content can be accessed as an add-on by all Tata Play Binge subscribers, who also have the DTH connection. Viewers can enjoy all 30+ apps on smartphones, large screen connected devices through LG, Samsung and Android smart TV’s, Desktop, Laptop, Tablets, Tata Play edition of the Amazon FireTV Stick and www.TataplayBinge.com.



Tata Play Binge expands its entertainment gateway with discovery+

Tech driven media company – Whisper Media has announced the appointment of Nidhee Kekre to its advisory board. With an illustrious career spanning over two decades in Business Strategy & Development, notably within the FMCG and BFSI industries, Kekre's strategic insights and industry expertise will significantly enhance Whisper Media's growth trajectory and strategic vision. 

Kekre joins Whisper Media following a successful tenure as the WPP Client Lead for Unilever, South Asia. Having managed diverse client portfolios across sectors such as FMCG, BFSI, Telecom and Consumer Goods. Kekre's strategic acumen is poised to play a pivotal role in steering Whisper Media towards new avenues of growth and innovation.


“We are delighted to have Nidhee on our advisory board. Her proven track record in driving business strategies and nurturing client relationships aligns perfectly with our vision of being a valuable client partner. We look forward to leveraging her insights to drive transformative initiatives and enhance our offerings in the FMCG sector. Nidhee’s extensive experience in business strategy, coupled with a deep understanding of consumer dynamics, makes her a valuable addition to Whisper Media's advisory board,” says LS Krishnan, CEO & Director, Whisper Media.

Before her tenure at WPP, Kekre held key roles with renowned brands including Kantar, JetAir, Essar Aegis and Godrej, where she earned accolades for her innovative strategies and business transformation initiatives.

“I am glad to be a part of Whisper Media's journey, a company known for its cutting-edge approach to media solutions and production. I believe in the power of technology to revolutionize consumer engagement, and I look forward to contributing my experience to drive strategic growth and market leadership in the organization,” concludes Kekre.


Whisper Media appoints Nidhee Kekre to its advisory board

Palmolive, the personal care brand from Colgate-Palmolive India, announced the launch of its first-ever mega campaign featuring its body wash range.


Palmolive defines an elevated category code with this campaign, using the contrast of the chaos of urban life intersecting with dreamy shower moments. Amidst the rushedness of city living, the protagonist finds a moment to slow down with the aromas of Palmolive body wash. Through the sensory journey of her shower experience, the brand encourages everyone to elevate their mornings with Palmolive. 

"Palmolive is a strategic & integral part of Colgate-Palmolive. We are the pioneers of the body wash category in India, and it is important for us to reinforce in the consumer’s mind Palmolive’s natural, aromatic bathing experience. To do this, we felt there is a need to address the reality of our consumer’s life. Our target audience is always on-the-go, always rushed, always ON. Her busy daily routine offers her no moment to pause —however, indulging in the simple pleasure of a sensorial Palmolive shower can be just that! Through this campaign, we encourage our consumer to take a moment to slow down and savour the feeling, every day.” says Swati Rao Jeyakumar, Director - Oral Beauty & Personal Care Marketing at Colgate-Palmolive. She adds, “Our body washes are curated with rich aromas that truly deliver superior and sensorial shower moments. We aim to position Palmolive as a premium, natural brand that offers an elevated bathing experience."

Juneston Mathana, Executive Creative Director at WPP@CP, commented, “If the brand has taken a stance to move beyond only functional benefits and redefine the category, then it’s only natural for the communication to do the same. The idea of a floating bathtub gently drifting above the hustle and bustle of the city didn’t just sound refreshing, but also exciting. It’s an image that will forever be inviting, like the magic carpet ride. And bringing this beautiful vision to life was the masterful Sachin Kotre and his team from Lensflare Films”


Palmolive tells people to slow down amid the bustle in its new campaign

Today, many organisations and employees are settling into hybrid and permanently remote roles, with 44 percent of businesses worldwide reporting growth in numbers of full-time employees working from abroad, as highlighted in a study by Remote. These roles have given employees more freedom over their schedules, but they have also made it much harder for some people to switch off and stop working. As remote workers navigate the blurred boundaries between work and personal life, it becomes crucial to address the psychological impact and implement effective coping mechanisms.

Understanding the Psychological Impact - Even before the pandemic, issues like overwork, overwhelm, and burnout were on the rise worldwide. With remote work, the lines between professional and personal spheres blur further, posing significant challenges to mental health. However, the transition to remote work also presents an opportunity to redefine how we approach work-life balance and well-being. 

Isolation and Loneliness- The switch to remote work can really hit hard, leaving you feeling isolated and lonely. Without those face-to-face interactions with your colleagues, it's easy to feel disconnected, which can seriously mess with your mental health. While not impossible, it can be tough to recreate that office camaraderie online, leaving remote workers feeling extra stressed and anxious. Remote work can make people feel isolated, but digital channels help them stay connected socially. Encouraging non-work conversations via chat platforms can help team members bond. The flexibility of remote work also gives more time for meaningful interactions with our loved ones offline. Remote workers should be encouraged to negotiate digital tools with real-life relationships to nurture work-life balance. 

Lack of Structure and Routine- The flexibility of remote work can result in a lack of structure and routine, making it challenging to prioritise tasks effectively and maintain a healthy work-life balance. Working in an office comes with a clear routine like fixed start and end timings, designated breaks, and the daily set timing of commute that separates office from home. But with remote work, these lines seem to blur. Without set hours or physical distance, it's easy to overwork, skip breaks, and struggle with work-life balance. This lack of structure makes it hard to prioritize tasks and increases the risk of burnout. 

Reduced Social Interaction - The virtual nature of remote work diminishes opportunities for social interaction, replacing spontaneous office conversations with digital communication, which may not fully satisfy the need for social connection.

Coping Mechanisms for remote workers - For the effective functioning of remote work, it's important to adopt flexible ways of working that don't require everyone to be online at the same time. This means you don't always have to be online at the same time as others. Instead, you can communicate and work on things at different times. This gives you more freedom, less stress to reply right away, and helps you work at a better pace. Writing down how things are done and using messages instead of always talking can make work smoother and less stressful for everyone.

Embrace Asynchronous Work - Switching to asynchronous work can really ease the burden of constantly being on call. When you give all the info upfront in your messages and let your colleagues respond when it works for them, it makes for a more flexible and manageable work setup. It means team members can focus on their work without constant interruptions, while still staying connected and collaborating effectively. Moreover, asynchronous communication encourages thoughtful responses and reduces hurried decisions, ultimately resulting in better outcomes and productivity for the employees.

Set Clear Stopping Points - It's super important to set a solid endpoint for your workday, whether it's sticking to a routine or finding little cues to signal it's time to clock out. Doing this helps your brain switch gears and unwind from work mode, making it easier to enjoy your personal time. Like ending work at a particular set time and shutting down the computer or setting an alarm to remind you to wrap up the work. Tidying up the workspace, engaging in transition activities, communicating end times to colleagues, and reflecting on accomplishments - these actions signal the end of work, allowing you to enjoy personal time and prevent being burned out.

Create a Dedicated Workspace - Having a defined workspace can help you mentally separate work from personal time. Designating a separate physical space for work helps remote workers mentally separate work from personal life. A comfortable, distraction-free workspace enhances productivity and well-being.

Accept Realistic Expectations - It is important to understand that it’s completely okay not to perform at 110 percent all the time. Rejecting the notion of constant productivity and striving for perfection, remote workers should aim for sustainable performance levels and prioritise their mental health.

Empowering the mental well-being of employees, especially those working remotely, is a collective responsibility. Nurturing mental health and well-being in remote work environments is not merely a corporate obligation but a moral imperative. By prioritising employee welfare, organisations foster a culture of compassion, resilience, and innovation. Through collaborative efforts and unwavering commitment, we can build remote work environments that empower individuals to thrive professionally and personally in the digital age.

The author of the piece is Job van der Voort, CEO, Remote, a global HR platform. Views expressed are personal.

Mental health in remote work: Addressing the psychological impacts and coping mechanisms for remote workers

Kulfi Collective, a creative network in India that functions at the intersection of content, community and culture, has announced the appointment of Divya Karani as Chairperson and Executive Director of its Board. Most recently, Karani was the CEO of Dentsu Media, South Asia, where she led the agency for over 12 years.


Kulfi Collective, through its three divisions, Supari Studios, Post Office & Keeda Media, has partnered with brands and platforms such as Spotify, Red Bull, Netflix, Lego, Flipkart and Zomato to deliver content, experiences & IPs that shape culture. 


Karani stated, "I am honoured to join Kulfi Collective at such a transformative time. Together, we aim to redefine the creative network model, with an emphasis on agility, authenticity and purpose that resonates with a connected generation."


"Divya joining the board will help us build the right governance frameworks as we scale globally. Further, her deep expertise will help us build upstream capabilities to bring brands closer to communities and subcultures in music, sports, gaming, entertainment and lifestyle.” said Advait Gupt, co-founder & chief executive officer of Kulfi Collective.



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Kulfi Collective appoints Divya Karani as chairperson and ED of its board

Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL), announced a key change in its Management Committee.


BP Biddappa will join the HUL Management Committee as executive director, human resources and chief people, transformation and sustainability officer for South Asia. Biddappa will also join the HUL Board as a whole time director, subject to shareholder approval. In this role, he will lead the people agenda for South Asia as well as drive the transformation interventions from a business, organisation, and sustainability perspective.


Anuradha Razdan, currently executive director, human resources, HUL and chief HR officer, South Asia will be appointed to a global role as chief reward & organisation development officer for Unilever. This change will be effective June 1, 2024.


Biddappa is currently the Chief HR Officer for Global Home Care and Head, Global Employee Relations for Unilever. He started his over three-decade-long career in Unilever with a factory stint in HUL and then moved on to undertake a variety of roles, from leadership development to business partnering, across several Unilever businesses and led HR for Unilever in Maghreb, Bangladesh, and India. 


During his last stint in HUL, he was instrumental in setting up the Winning in Many Indias approach, creating a more agile and focused business unit framework in South Asia and launching the Prabhat community development program that has, till date, impacted over 10 million Indians. Over the last five years, he has led two critical expertise functions for Unilever globally – Organization Development & People Analytics and Global Employee Relations. He also helped set up and build the Health and Wellbeing business for Unilever as well as the Unilever Professionals business.


Razdan has been the executive director, HR at HUL and CHRO for South Asia for the last five years. During her tenure, she helped the business navigate the COVID pandemic. Under her leadership, the Company completed the seamless people integration for the HUL-GSK CH merger. Being a strong advocate for inclusion, she led the company towards its ambition of being a gender balanced organisation – launching multi-year programmes, like Ahilya and Samavesh, to improve gender balance in traditionally male bastions such as Sales and the Factory shopfloor. During her tenure, HUL has consistently been chosen as the Employer of Choice.


Welcoming Biddappa back to India, Rohit Jawa, CEO and managing director, HUL said, “An accomplished HR leader with over three decades of experience, Biddappa comes with immense knowledge of transformation and organisational development. I am glad to welcome him to the HUL Leadership and I am confident that his able guidance and leadership will help transform the business to progress further on our future-fit agenda.”


Thanking Anuradha for her contribution to the business, Jawa said, “Anuradha is known for her ability to shape and deliver a strategic business-focused people agenda. She has played a key role in the HUL Leadership Team over the past five years. Her appointment to a senior leadership role for Unilever is yet another testimony to the powerhouse of talent we have in India.”


Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-marketing/hul-ceo-rohit-jawa-weve-embarked-on-a-journey-of-transform-to-outperform-to-serve-evolving-aspirations-of-indian-consumers-29881.htm">HUL CEO Rohit Jawa: We've embarked on a journey of 'Transform to Outperform' to serve evolving aspirations of Indian consumers</a>

HUL restructures its management committee; elevates BP Biddappa and Anuradha Razdan

Public broadcaster Prasar Bharati is accelerating its foray into the OTT(over-the-top) space, this time seeking media sales muscle. After releasing a draft RFP (Request for Proposal) last year outlining the platform's features and goals, the pubcaster issued a fresh e-tender on April 19 for a multimedia and media sales agency contract.


The e-tender invites bids from pre-approved DAVP (CBC) multimedia and media sales agencies for a Rs. 4 crore contract (including taxes). The scope of work for the agencies will include branding, marketing, promotion, media planning, sales, and media buying for the platform across pre-launch, launch, and post-launch phases.


The chosen agency will be responsible for crafting a comprehensive strategy to generate excitement for the platform using various media channels. The contract spans the first 12 months following the launch and is extendable up to another 12 months based on performance review.


As per the tender document accessed by Storyboard18, scope of work related to media planning, selling and buying includes, media plan development, refinements, and amendments, as needed throughout the course of the fiscal year, create holistic media plan recommendations reflective of the key metrics, research against the target audience, and creative direction to satisfy the vision of reaching rural and urban audiences for a diverse and inclusive reach supporting a monetisation plan for the OTT , targeting audience development for all core general market targets.


“Media planning will include the use of all media vehicles as needed based on strategic direction which includes network TV, cable TV, radio, consumer print, trade print, outdoor, etc,” said the document.


Selling responsibilities on the other hand include media sales strategy development.


Empanelled agencies would be required to create a comprehensive media sales and monetization strategy, including identifying target audiences, setting pricing models, and defining sales channels for the OTT platform.


Creating an inventory pipeline for advertising on the OTT platform and bringing in hyper local advertising and creating a mechanism for attracting advertising on the OTT platform will also be part of the key responsibilities for these agencies.


The document also outlines the fact that with nearly 78 (and growing) OTT platforms already vying for audience attention, Prasar Bharati faces a significant hurdle of standing out in a crowded market.


“The challenge that lies ahead of PB is cutting through the clutter of almost 78 (and counting) OTT platforms that are already available in the Indian market, and what difference are they going to make on OTT that will give them the scale as well as avenue of fresh revenue to sustain the initiative. As a National Public Service Broadcaster, PB intends to primarily make content available to the masses free of cost or minimal charge for select content (at least in the initial phase),” they said in the document.


Therefore the source of revenue for the platform would be predominantly platform advertising, licensing fee, aggregator fee or a revenue share model.


Bids for the tender open on May 3rd, 2024, with a required earnest money deposit of Rs. 8 lakh.


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Prasar Bharati invites e-tenders for multimedia and media sales agency ahead of its OTT launch: Exclusive

FMCG major Hindustan Unilever has re-named its 'health food drinks' category as functional nutritional drinks (FND). The move comes after the Ministry of Commerce and Industry directed e-commerce websites to remove drinks and beverages like Horlicks and Bournvita from 'health drinks' category on their platforms.

"We have changed the labels of the category to FND which is a much better way to call it," said Ritesh Tiwari, chief financial officer of Hindustan Unilever at the earnings press conference on April 24.

The FND category is under-penetrated and hence there is a big opportunity for growth, Tiwari said, adding that HUL will focus on increasing customers and usage, and giving more benefits for consumers to upgrade in the FND category. The company is seeing better growth in its premium FND range which caters to Diabetes and women's health, Tiwari stated.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry on April 10, asked e-commerce websites to remove Mondelez-owned Bournvita, among other drinks and beverages, from the ‘healthy drinks’ category on their platforms.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) said that there is no "health drink defined under the FSS Act 2006, rules and regulations as submitted by FSSAl & Mondelez India.”

The Ministry in a notification said, “NCPCR, a statutory body constituted under section (3) of the commission for Protection of Child Rights (CPCR) Act, 2005 after its inquiry under Section 14 of CPCR Act, 2005, concluded that there is no "Health Drink defined under FSS Act 2006, Rules and regulations as submitted by FSSAl and Mondelez India Food Pvt Ltd.”

It therefore, advised all e-commerce companies and portals to remove drinks and beverages that included Bournvita from the ‘healthy drinks’ category.

Earlier, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had informed all e-commerce platforms to refrain from labelling dairy-based, cereal-based or malt-based beverages as ‘health drinks’ or ‘energy drinks’.

The reason behind this is because ‘health drink’ isn’t defined in Indian food laws. ‘Energy drink’ on the other hand, by law, refers to flavoured water drinks - carbonated and non carbonated, under the FSS Act 2006.

According to the FSSAI, the use of these terms can mislead consumers. Hence, the body has asked all Food Business Operators (FBO) that operate via e-commerce to dissociate themselves from such terms by removing their drinks and beverages from these categories.

"This corrective action aims to enhance clarity and transparency regarding the nature and functional properties of the products, ensuring that consumers can make well-informed choices without encountering misleading information," the body said in a statement.



HUL renames its 'health food drinks' category; Horlicks is now 'functional nutritional drink'

JioCinema announced its new subscription offering, ‘JioCinema Premium’. The new plans starting at a market-defining Rs.29/month will offer an Ad Free experience delivered in up to 4K quality and off-line viewing options. Members can access Exclusive Series, Movies, Hollywood, Kids & TV entertainment, on any device, including Connected TVs. 

 

With a focus on multi-segment consumption across Indian households, a ‘Family’ plan was also announced at Rs.89/month which offers the additional benefit of four simultaneous screens access. Existing JioCinema Premium members will now avail all the additional benefits of the ‘Family’ plan at no extra cost.

 

While Sports content including the ongoing Indian Premier League and thousands of hours of entertainment content will continue to be available for Free as part of its Ad-Supported offering, here’s what JioCinema Premium Members will get exclusive access to:

 

Top International Content in Local Languages: The biggest global series and movie premieres from Hollywood, through partnerships with the world’s biggest studios - Peacock, HBO, Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery. Top titles such as Game Of Thrones, House Of The Dragon, Oppenheimer, Barbie and several more will also be available in Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Bengali and Marathi.

 

Wholesome Kids & Family Entertainment: Home to one of the widest selections of Indian and International toons, with titles ranging from Motu Patlu, Shiva and Rudra to Pokémon, Peppa Pig and Paw Patrol, the Kids & Family hub houses thousands of hours of top-quality movies and series. JioCinema’s Parental Control features also provide a safe space for content consumption.

 

Genre-defining Originals & Blockbuster Movies: With upcoming original series including the much talked about Ranneeti: Balakot & Beyond (Jimmy Shergill, Lara Dutta, Ashish Vidyarthi), Murder In Mahim (Vijay Raaz, Ashutosh Rana), PILL (Riteish Deshmukh) and several more to be unveiled, JioCinema Premium members will get access to top-rated series premieres every month, in addition to some of India’s most loved Originals such as Asur, Taali & Kaalkoot. The platform also promises blockbuster Bollywood Premieres every month with Zara Hatke Zara Bachke headlining the month of May.

 

Before-TV Premieres & Live Channels: Members will get early access to their favourite content from Colors, Nickelodeon and the entire Colors suite of local language channels, with serials now being made available for members even before their television airing. In addition, 20+ TV channels from the Viacom18 Network will be available to stream.

 

Speaking on the launch of JioCinema Premium, Kiran Mani, chief executive officer, Viacom18 Digital said, “Creating and building an entertainment ecosystem with a product that is made for every Indian household, is not just a business strategy, but a vision to empower our country and users with an unmatched entertainment experience. JioCinema Premium aims to redefine the narrative of premium entertainment for every Indian while building a daily viewing habit.”

 

He further added, “The introduction of JioCinema Premium breaks the numerous cost and quality barriers that exist in accessing premium entertainment. With 4K streaming, best-in-class audio, offline viewing and no device restriction all at a customer-centric pricing is sure to democratise access to quality entertainment for all of India.”

 

JioCinema has also rolled out a campaign asking consumers, “Toh Aaj Kya Plan Hai?”. The campaign highlights the core benefits of JioCinema Premium while showcasing the distress of today’s consumers when choosing their entertainment plan.


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JioCinema rolls out its new subscription offering ‘JioCinema Premium’

Bajaj Auto, two-wheeler and three-wheeler company, has appointed Abraham Joseph as managing director of the company's wholly owned subsidiary, Chetak Technology. And, Ramtilak Ananthan will take up the position of chief technology officer at Bajaj Auto. 


Joseph, who has 35 years of experience, under his leadership, the company will pivot to become a high-tech organisation focused on developing core competencies across the spectrum of cutting-edge automotive technologies, stated a media report. 


Ananthan comes with an experience of more than 30 years at Bajaj Auto, In 2013, he was elevated to the position of vice president – R&D. Then, in 2019, he assumed the role of head – test & validation, overseeing the complete test and validation function, further added the report.

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Bajaj Auto strengthens its leadership team; Abraham Joseph and Ramtilak Ananthan take up newer roles

Tata Sons, the holding company of the Tata Group, has increased its stake in direct-to-home (DTH) provider Tata Play by 10 percent, acquiring the shares from Singapore investment firm Temasek for approximately $100 million. As reported by ET, this move raises Tata Sons' ownership to 70 percent solidifying its control over the company.


Following Temasek's exit, Tata Play will operate as a 70:30 joint venture between Tata and Walt Disney. Disney holds its stake through its acquisition of Star India, formerly owned by 21st Century Fox. While Tata Play's valuation has decreased from its pre-pandemic target of $3 billion to $1 billion, it remains a crucial player in the media and entertainment sector as Tata's primary consumer-facing business.


The report also mentions ongoing discussions between Tata Sons and Disney regarding the latter's potential exit from Tata Play. Both parties are reportedly exploring options for an exit through an IPO which faced postponement due to market conditions and challenges within the DTH sector. Notably, Tata Play had received approval for an IPO in May 2023 from Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI).


Tata strengthens grip on Tata Play with increased stake purchase: Reports

The Uttarakhand State Licensing Authority apologised to the Supreme Court for unsatisfactory action against Patanjali Ayurved in the misleading ads case, reported Bar and Bench. 

The Uttarakhand SLA has filed a criminal compliant against Baba Ramdev and Acharya Balakrishna for violating the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, it said in an affidavit filed on Saturday. 

The Indian Medical Association had earlier, filed a plea against Patanjali Ayurved in response to an alleged smear campaign against the Covid-19 vaccination drive and other modern medicine. The affidavit was filed in response to the plea. 

The affidavit read, ”The SLA has been vigilant in its duties and has taken appropriate steps to ensure due compliance under the said Acts and Rules ... SLA also has a family to look after and therefore any observations made by this Hon’ble Court will have a detrimental effect on his career .... SLA herein is completely aware of the gravity of the situation and seriousness of the matter at hand and has always endeavored to discharge its duties to the best of his capacity and in accordance with law.”

Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/advertising/sc-raps-uttarakhand-state-licensing-authority-in-patanjali-misleading-ads-case-28730.htm">SC raps Uttarakhand state licensing authority in Patanjali misleading ads case</a>


At the April 10 hearing in the misleading ads case, the Supreme Court pulled up Uttarakhand drug authorities, asking why no action was taken against the violations and despite clear mention of 'suggestive nature' of content in Patanjali Ayurved's advertising for its products. 

In previous hearings, the SC had pulled up the Centre and state authorities for lack of action. "We are wondering why the government chose to keep their eyes shut," the SC had said. According to the centre's response, states hold the authority to address advertisements promoting magic remedies; Nonetheless, the Centre has promptly addressed the issue in compliance with the law.

Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/how-it-works/patanjali-misleading-ads-case-uttarakhand-state-licensing-authority-delayed-for-two-years-against-company-28432.htm">Patanjali misleading ads case: Uttarakhand state licensing authority delayed action for two years against company</a>

Balkrishna and Ramdev were present before the Court on April 10 where a bench comprising Justices Hima Kohli and Ahsanuddin Amanullah heard the matter in the case of the plea filed by the IMA against Patanjali Ayurved.

The Supreme Court while dictating the order said Uttarakhand State Licensing Authority had filed a detailed affidavit trying to explain action taken regarding objectionable ads. Justice Kohli said, "We are appalled to note that except pushing the file, nothing has been done. In 4-5 years, the State Licensing Authority remained in deep slumber." She said, "Why should we not think you are in cahoots with alleged contemnors? You are keeping your eyes shut deliberately."

Patanjali misleading ads case: Uttarakhand SLA apologises to Supreme Court

Nestle India has been testing a zero-sugar variant for infant food, the company’s chairman and managing director, Suresh Narayanan told CNBC-TV18. 

Narayanan added that Nestle India is compliant with the law and has sent samples for testing to the FSSAI. 

Over the last two years, Nestle India has reduced sugar content by over 30 percent in its products, said Narayanan. 

He spoke about the nutritional value of Cerelac and assured that the product meets all the required nutrition parameters. 

Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/how-it-works/nestle-baby-foods-controversy-we-never-compromise-on-the-nutritional-quality-of-our-products-says-nestle-india-29463.htm">Nestle baby foods controversy: We never compromise on the nutritional quality of our products, says Nestle India</a>


Tests on Cerelac products available in India showed an average of over 2.7g of added sugar per serving. 

Public Eye said that Cerelac wheat-based cereals, made for six month old infants that are sold by Nestle in Germany, France and the UK, do not contain any additional sugar. On the other hand, the same product sold in Ethiopia contains more than 5g per serving and in Thailand, contains 6 grams per serving.

In India, Cerelac is the highest selling cereal-based product meant for infants. In 2022, Cerelac sales of Nestle India surpassed $250 million. Cerelac has a worldwide sales of $1 billion.

Read More: <a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/quantum-brief/nestle-india-sales-crossed-rs-5000-crore-march-quarter-29942.htm">Nestle India sales crossed Rs 5,000 crore in March quarter</a>


Similarly, tests on Nido brand products, with global retail sales exceeding $1 billion, exhibited considerable variation in sugar levels across countries.

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA) has asked food regulator FSSAI to investigate the allegations against Nestle of adding higher quantities of sugar to baby products in India as compared to other countries, as per news reports. 

It was reported that the FSSAI was examining the report published by Swiss investigative organisation Public Eye and would present the report to a scientific panel.

Nestle baby food controversy: Suresh Narayanan says Nestle India is testing a zero-sugar variant for infant food

The UK's Financial Times has struck a strategic partnership and licensing agreement with Microsoft-backed OpenAI to enhance ChatGPT with attributed content, help improve its models’ usefulness by incorporating FT journalism, and collaborate on developing new AI products and features for FT readers, the Financial Times and OpenAI shared about the latest media tie-up. 

ChatGPT users will be able to see select attributed summaries, quotes and rich links to FT journalism in response to relevant queries, the report added. 

While the financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed, this latest expansion of media partnerships follows similar deals by OpenAI over the past few months with the Associated Press, global news publisher Axel Springer, France's Le Monde and Spain-based Prisa Media. This week, Axel Springer SE and Microsoft Corp. announced an expanded, multifaceted partnership across advertising, AI, content and cloud computing. The cooperation aims to leverage cutting-edge innovation to support independent journalism around the world, Microsoft said in a statement.

FT Group CEO John Ridding said the agreement recognises "the value of our award-winning journalism and will give us early insights into how content is surfaced through AI," adding that "this partnership will help to keep us at the forefront of developments in how people access and use information.” 

Ridding added, “Apart from the benefits to the FT, there are broader implications for the industry. It’s right, of course, that AI platforms pay publishers for the use of their material. OpenAI understands the importance of transparency, attribution, and compensation – all essential for us. At the same time, it’s clearly in the interests of users that these products contain reliable sources.” 

Brad Lightcap, COO of OpenAI, said, “Our partnership and ongoing dialogue with the FT is about finding creative and productive ways for AI to empower news organisations and journalists, and enrich the ChatGPT experience with real-time, world-class journalism for millions of people around the world.” 

"We're keen to explore the practical outcomes regarding news sources and AI through this partnership,” said Ridding. He added, "As with any transformative technology, there is potential for significant advancements and major challenges, but what’s never possible is turning back time. It’s important for us to represent quality journalism as these products take shape – with the appropriate safeguards in place to protect the FT’s content and brand." 

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/digital/axel-springer-and-microsoft-expand-partnership-across-advertising-ai-content-and-azure-services%e2%80%af-30248.htm">Read more: Axel Springer and Microsoft expand partnership across advertising, AI, content and Azure services</a>

Axel Springer SE and Microsoft Corp. have announced an expanded, multifaceted partnership across advertising, AI, content and cloud computing. The cooperation aims to leverage cutting-edge innovation to support independent journalism around the world, Microsoft said in a statement. 

Axel Springer is a media and technology company and active in more than 40 countries. Its portfolio features diverse media brands including BILD, WELT, BUSINESS INSIDER, POLITICO and classifieds portals (The Stepstone Group and AVIV Group). The company has successfully transformed from a traditional print media company to Europe’s leading digital publisher. The company is headquartered in Berlin and employs more than 18,000 people worldwide.

The partnership with Microsoft will expand and deepen the existing cooperation. The existing adtech collaboration will be expanded to encompass POLITICO. Building on a mutual commitment to the principles and potential of responsible AI, both companies will partner to develop new AI-driven experiences for their users. In addition, Microsoft Start-MSN users will have access to more premium content from Axel Springer’s news brands, and Axel Springer will migrate its SAP solutions to Microsoft Azure.

“In this new era of AI, partnerships are critical to preserving and promoting independent journalism while ensuring a thriving media landscape,” said Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Axel Springer. “We’re optimistic about the future of journalism and the opportunities we can unlock through this expanded partnership with Microsoft.”

“This new generation of AI is transforming nearly every aspect of work and life, including how people search for and consume content online,” said Satya Nadella, chairman and CEO of Microsoft. “Our expanded partnership with Axel Springer brings together their leadership in digital publishing with the full power of the Microsoft Cloud — including our ad solutions — to build innovative AI-driven experiences and create new opportunity for advertisers and users.”

Key elements of the partnership

Extending adtech collaboration to the U.S.: Axel Springer will adopt Microsoft Advertising as its ad server solution, expanding its existing partnership from Europe to the U.S. POLITICO will integrate Microsoft Advertising technology as a comprehensive solution enhanced by Axel Springer’s adtech management and optimization layer AdLib. POLITICO will also be integrated into the Microsoft Advertising Network, allowing advertisers to reach a broader audience.

Powering new AI experiences and monetization: Axel Springer will partner with Microsoft to pilot new innovative AI-driven chat experiences to better inform and engage their users with Axel Springer’s journalistic content. The cooperation will further fuel Axel Springer’s ventures in AI, building on projects such as the AI assistant Hey_, powered among others by Azure OpenAI Service. In addition, Axel Springer will leverage Microsoft Advertising’s Chat Ads API for generative AI monetization.

Enhanced content offerings through Microsoft Start-MSN: Axel Springer is expanding its Microsoft Start-MSN partnership to provide users with access to more premium content from leading journalistic brands such as Business Insider, POLITICO, BILD and WELT, reaching millions of users across devices and markets.

Microsoft Azure expansion: In addition to extending its use of Azure AI capabilities for AI innovation, the digital publisher will also transform and migrate its SAP solutions to Microsoft Azure, the trusted and secure cloud platform, to enhance scalability, reliability and performance across its digital infrastructure.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/digital/openai-to-use-financial-times-content-to-train-ai-models-in-latest-media-partnership-30255.htm">Read more: OpenAI to use Financial Times content to train AI models in latest media partnership</a>

Last week Meta-owned WhatsApp said that if the government asks it to break end-to-end encryption then WhatsApp will exit India. However, that’s not the only thing the government wants WhatsApp to follow. 

The Indian government said that WhatsApp and Facebook cannot claim to protect users' privacy while monetising their data for business purposes. This was told by The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) in an affidavit filed with the Delhi High Court. The Ministry filed it in opposition to a petition filed by WhatsApp and Facebook challenging newly amended IT Rules, reported moneycontrol. 

The affidavit said that WhatsApp infringed upon the fundamental rights of Indian users by preventing them access to dispute resolution mechanisms within the country. The Ministry argued that WhatsApp’s actions violate user rights, citing clauses related to Dispute Resolution and Governing Law. 

The Ministry emphasised the importance of implementing the IT Rules 2021. It said that failure to implement would hamper law enforcement agencies’ in tracking down fake messages that could lead to societal unrest. The government made it clear that all social media platforms need to be accountable to both users and the laws of the countries in which they operate.

The Ministry specified that the new IT Rules align globally accepted norms regarding the responsibilities of intermediaries in the digital sphere. The government argues that even if a platform doesn't create harmful content, it can still be held responsible for failing to remove it if it violates local laws. The rules emphasise a concept of "secondary liability" for social media companies.




Snap Inc. announced financial results for the quarter ended March 31, 2024. “The value we provide our community and advertising partners has translated into improved financial performance,” said Evan Spiegel, CEO. “Our large, growing, and hard-to-reach community, brand-safe environment, and full-funnel advertising solutions have made us an increasingly important partner for businesses of all sizes.”

Q1 2024 Financial Summary

Revenue was $1,195 million, compared to $989 million in the prior year, an increase of 21% year-over-year.
Net loss was $305 million, compared to $329 million in the prior year.
Adjusted EBITDA was $46 million, compared to $1 million in the prior year.
Operating cash flow was $88 million, compared to $151 million in the prior year.
Free Cash Flow was $38 million, compared to $103 million in the prior year.

Q1 2024 Summary & Key Highlights

Snap Inc said it grew and deepened its engagement with its community. It's DAUs were 422 million in Q1 2024, an increase of 39 million, or 10%, year-over-year. Total time spent watching Spotlight content increased more than 125% year-over-year. The growth in the Snap Star program has been an important driver of engagement in North America, with total time spent watching Stories from Snap Stars growing more than 55% year-over-year in North America. "We onboarded over 1,500 Snap Stars in Q1, which has helped generate quarter-over-quarter growth in Story posts, Spotlight posts, and Stories time spent for Snap Stars globally. We introduced new tools to help our community make more creative Snaps, including new Creative Templates, the ability to post longer videos, and access to AI-powered AR Lens creation," the company shared. 

Stating that Snap Inc is focused on accelerating and diversifying its revenue growth, the company said that Snapchat+ subscribers more than tripled year-over-year, surpassing 9 million subscribers in Q1. The number of small and medium sized advertisers on Snapchat increased 85% year-over-year. Ongoing momentum with our 7-0 Pixel Purchase optimization model led to a more than 75% increase in purchase related conversions year-over-year.

"We launched a new and improved version of Conversions API (CAPI) available to all advertisers that offers easier set up with reduced integration times. We partnered with Snowflake to enable advertisers to easily implement our CAPI solutions without needing to build a bespoke back-end integration. Our improvements to CAPI and improved collaboration with advertisers has resulted in CAPI integrations growing approximately 300% year-over-year in Q1 2024," Snap Inc stated. 

The company launched Sponsored AR Filters, its new AR ad offering that expands advertisers’ reach via the Snapchat Camera and enables Snapchatters to overlay sponsored AR content on their Snaps after a photo or video is captured. It also announced partnerships with Traackr, Lumen Research, OMD, Amplified Intelligence, and Fospha to empower advertisers with more campaign tools and insights.

Snap announced two new brand safety solutions for advertisers: a third-party measurement product in partnership with Integral Ad Science, a leading global media measurement and optimization platform, to provide advertisers with increased transparency across their Snapchat campaigns, and a first-party tool that allows advertisers greater control over where their ads appear.

Snap is also investing in its augmented reality platform. "We continue to invest in Generative AI models and automation for the creation of ML and AI Lenses, which contributed to the number of ML and AI Lenses viewed by Snapchatters increasing by more than 50% year-over-year.
We invested in relationship-centered AR Formats that drove outsized sharing among US Snapchatters including “Friend Lenses” that feature friends in Quizzes and other experiences, and “Q&A Lenses” that prompt Snapchatters to send fun text and image responses to their Friends.
We implemented an improved AR Carousel ranking model that refreshes AR lenses more frequently, making it easier to discover new Lenses, driving a more than 50% increase in the number of new Lenses seen in the carousel by Snapchatters since launch." 

Snap integrated a new AI Assistant in Lens Studio that answers developer questions based on its documentation and tutorials to guide developers and help build Lenses more easily. It also launched a new Compression tool in Lens Studio to easily reduce the size of assets and optimize Lenses in order to improve the Lens creation experience on Snapchat. Other launches include an Animation Curve Editor in Lens Studio, a new interface for developers to edit animations inside Lens Studio — the first of many foundational animation tools coming soon, Snap stated. At Super Bowl LVIII, the NFL integrated Snapchat's Camera Kit technology at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas — the first time a Super Bowl host stadium has integrated Snap Inc's technology. 

Q2 2024 Outlook

Snap Inc shared in a statement, "As we enter Q2, we anticipate continued growth of our global community, and as a result, our Q2 guidance is built on the assumption that DAU will be approximately 431 million in Q2. We are focused on executing against our roadmap to deliver improvements to our DR advertising platform to drive improved results for our advertising partners and accelerate topline growth. Our Q2 guidance range for revenue is $1,225 million to $1,255 million, implying year-over-year revenue growth of 15% to 18%. Given the revenue range above, and our investment plans for the quarter ahead, we estimate that Adjusted EBITDA will be between $15 million and $45 million in Q2."

Snap's DAUs increased 10 percent YoY to 422 million; Q1 2024 revenue increased to $1,195 million

Anil Kumar Lahoti, chairman of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India on Thursday, said that the regulatory body will finalise the National Broadcast Policy by the end of May. 

Lahoti said that the regulatory body’s goal is to ensure that all stakeholders in the industry get a level playing field. He added that there should be no barriers to entry and discrimination towards new entrants and different players. 

The TRAI’s goal is to ensure that the consumer gets a good quality product at an affordable price, with convenience to avail the same. 

Speaking at Asia Video Industry Association’s (AVIA) Future of Video India conference, Lahoti emphasised the importance of the National Broadcast Policy saying that a pre-consultation was done before the main consultation as well. 

The last date given by the TRAI for receiving comments is April 30. Considering that this will only be an input to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB), the TRAI has said that there will be opportunity for counter comments. 

Lahoti further stated that the TRAI will finalise the inputs once the comments come in since they have a target for completion by the end of May. Post this, it will be sent to the MIB around the first week of June. 

Sanjay Jaju, secretary, Information and Broadcasting too added that the Bill aims to streamline regulatory processes, and ensure that there is a balanced playing field for different service providers. 

He also said that through Bill, provisions for emerging technologies will be introduced, while keeping in mind the differences in the technologies, business models and issues that citizens might have related to various stakeholders. 

Jaju also added that the MIB sees the India’s media and entertainment industry achieving a market size of $100 billion. The industry is currently valued at around $28-30 billion. He said that this vision is anchored on initiatives aimed at increasing innovation, growth and making the most out of the new opportunities in the sector. 

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/how-it-works/trai-chairman-anil-kumar-lahoti-spotlights-regional-contents-reach-and-importance-says-tv-will-grow-25663.htm">Read more: TRAI’s Anil Kumar Lahoti: TV will grow, mobile is not replacing TV</a>

National Broadcast Policy to be finalised by May-end: TRAI chairman Anil Kumar Lahoti

Nestlé India Limited and Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd today announced that they have entered into a definitive agreement to form a joint venture (“JV Company”) to bring innovative nutraceutical brands to consumers in India and other agreed territories. 

The partnership will bring together the well-known global range of nutritional health solutions as well as vitamin, minerals, herbals and supplements of Nestlé Health Science (NHSc) with the ­­­­strong and established commercial strengths of Dr. Reddy’s in India. The joint venture will help JV Partners combine their strengths and grow their complementary nutraceuticals portfolios in categories such as metabolic, hospital nutrition, general wellness , women’s health and child nutrition for consumers across India.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/quantum-brief/nestle-to-launch-global-brand-nespresso-in-india-by-2024-end-29938.htm">Read More: Nestlé to launch global brand Nespresso in India by 2024-end</a>

The JV Company will be headquartered in Hyderabad. The JV Company will leverage the capabilities as well as services of the Nestlé Group and Dr. Reddy’s.

Select brands will be licensed by the JV Partners to the JV company. The Nestlé Group will license brands such as Nature's Bounty, Osteo Bi-Flex, Ester-C, Resource High Protein, Optifast, Resource Diabetic, Peptamen, Resource Renal and Resource Dialysis. Dr. Reddy’s will license brands such as Rebalanz, Celevida, Antoxid, Kidrich-D3, Becozinc in the nutrition, and OTC segments. The JV Company is expected to become operational in Q2 of FY’25. 

Commenting on the joint venture, Suresh Narayanan, Chairman and Managing Director, Nestlé India said, “I am very happy to share that we are entering into a joint venture with Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Ltd. We have been on a journey where we strive to add value to the lives of our consumers through powerful brands and products. This joint venture is another important step in that direction, allowing us to bring our science-backed nutritional solutions to more people across the country. Dr. Reddy’s is a trusted name in the pharmaceutical space and shares our commitment to provide access to high quality products. This joint venture will enable us to build a robust retail and distribution network to take our brands closer to consumers and making a meaningful difference to improve the quality of life.”

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/quantum-brief/nestle-india-sales-crossed-rs-5000-crore-march-quarter-29942.htm">Read More: Nestle India sales crossed Rs 5,000 crore in March quarter</a>

M.V. Ramana, CEO – Branded Markets (India & Emerging Markets), Dr. Reddy’s said, “This joint venture is a novel approach by two companies that have a shared purpose of good health. We are pleased to partner with Nestlé India to bring innovations from the Nestlé Health Science global portfolio to consumers in India. This novel approach of leveraging mutually complementary strengths of both parent companies will enable better access and affordability for consumers.”

Nestlé India and Dr. Reddy’s form JV to bring nutraceutical brands to consumers across India

Nestle India has released its quarterly report on April 25, reporting a standalone net profit of Rs 934 crore in March quarter, up 27 percent from Rs 737 crore a year ago.

A poll of seven brokerages resulted in a net profit of Rs 856 crore, up 22 percent from the previous year and 17.8 percent from the December quarter.

Nestle is facing a probe by the FSSAI amidst allegations of high sugar content in baby food.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/quantum-brief/nestle-to-launch-global-brand-nespresso-in-india-by-2024-end-29938.htm">Read More: Nestlé to launch global brand Nespresso in India by 2024-end</a>

The company also revealed that its revenue increased 9 percent to Rs 5,268 crore. 

Nestle has also announced the launch of its Nespresso offering in India by the end of 2024. 

Nestle India has also announced that it will be entering into a joint venture with Dr. Reddy’s to consolidate its global range of nutritional health solutions, vitamins, minerals and health supplements of Nestlé Health Science. The JV is expected to turn operational in the second quarter of the financial year 2024-25.

Suresh Narayanan, Chairman and Managing Director, Nestlé India said, “I am pleased to share that we have delivered double-digit growth, despite challenges posed by rising food inflation and volatile commodity prices. We have witnessed a strong growth momentum across our product portfolio led by a combination of pricing and mix. Our domestic sales crossed INR 5,000 crore this quarter, a notable milestone for us. I would like to extend my heartfelt gratitude to my colleagues, distributors, retailers and partners for their unwavering dedication, determination, and diligence.

In the financial year ended 31st March 2024, Confectionery delivered strong performance, fuelled by KITKAT, making India the second-largest market for the brand globally. Nestle’s Beverages business recorded robust performance. NESCAFÉ has introduced its coffee to over 30 million households in India in the last 7 years. Milk Products and Nutrition witnessed strong growth despite inflationary pressures. Prepared Dishes and Cooking Aids registered strong growth across portfolio led by MAGGI Noodles and MAGGI Masala-ae-Magic. India emerged as the largest market worldwide for MAGGI.

‘Never endorsed any political party', says Aamir Khan; files FIR against fake political ad

"He would like to clarify that this is a fake video and totally untrue. He has reported the matter to various authorities related to this issue, including filing an FIR with the Cyber Crime Cell of the Mumbai Police," Aamir Khan’s official spokesperson said in a statement.

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